What happened to the Administrator?

[mm]

When I first got Windows started on a second-hand Dell 4700, XP-Home,
SP2, eventually auto-upgraded to SP3, it came up with two possible
logons, Administrator and my friend's daughter.

I chose the second, thinking I could go to the first later.

Now it goes automatically to that second persona (persona?), not
stopping to give me a choice.

But I figured I only have to do Logoff and Switch User, but that
didn't do anything! I still had only one choice, Daughter.

Someone posted how to get rid of the admin password, and I haven't
dl'd that yet (have to read the page first), but I don't even get
asked for the password now; I'm only offered Daughter!

What should I do? (No suggestions to soak my head, please.)

 

[Patok]

Someone posted how to get rid of the admin password, and I haven't
dl'd that yet (have to read the page first), but I don't even get
asked for the password now; I'm only offered Daughter!

What should I do? (No suggestions to soak my head, please.)

If you have other users, Administrator is usually suppressed. There may be a
more direct way to show it, but as usual, I'm spoiled by TweakUI and don't know
what it is. It is, however, one of the options of the Logon section of TweakUI.

 

[Seemore Grey]

When I first got Windows started on a second-hand Dell 4700, XP-Home,
SP2, eventually auto-upgraded to SP3, it came up with two possible
logons, Administrator and my friend's daughter.

I chose the second, thinking I could go to the first later.

Now it goes automatically to that second persona (persona?), not
stopping to give me a choice.

XP Home - "Adminstrator" is only available in safe mode.

Start computer in safe mode:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

Safe mode boot options:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

 

[mm]

If you have other users, Administrator is usually suppressed. There may be a
more direct way to show it, but as usual, I'm spoiled by TweakUI and don't know
what it is. It is, however, one of the options of the Logon section of TweakUI.

Thanks. I installed Tweakui, and I'm glad to have it, but it only
referred to Daughter, and not to Administrator!

but see my other answers.

 

[mm]

Try: Start/Control Panel/User Accounts

If 'Daughter' is an 'Admin' account, then you can create another (new)
user without difficulty - just fly by the seat of your pants! You can
call the new account anything you want - including Administrator IIRC!

However, if 'Daughter' is a 'Limited Account' - you'll have to await
advice from another! (sorry - my bed time!)

This was good, because I learned that Daughter was an administrator.
I suspected as much when I was able to edit the registry, in a part
that is not user specific, but it was good to see it in written down.

But I still wanted to see that original persona, so see my next
answer.

 

[mm]

XP Home - "Adminstrator" is only available in safe mode.

And this is best answer. So I started it in safe mode and was
offered both personas.

Now I realize I was in safe mode when I saw two personas the first
time, because it froze when starting in regular mode. I started it in
Safe mode, it automatically did a few things (drivers? I don't know
the message flashed for less than a second) and from then on I've been
starting it in regular mode. I just assumed it was because it was
the first time, instead of realizing or at least suspectiing it was
because of mode. (I'd forgotten that I used it.)

I also learned something else.

I have been able to dl MS updates, and AVG updates up to a point in
Daughter persona, but can't dl avg8.5 and can't go anywhere with IE8.
However in safe administrator persona, IE worked fine. In safe
Daughter persona, it worked no better than non-safe.

I'll figure this out eventually.

Start computer in safe mode:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

Safe mode boot options:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

Thanks a lot, and thanks Patok and BD.

 

[Don Phillipson]

When I first got Windows started on a second-hand Dell 4700, XP-Home,
SP2, eventually auto-upgraded to SP3, it came up with two possible
logons, Administrator and my friend's daughter.

I chose the second, thinking I could go to the first later.

Now it goes automatically to that second persona (persona?), not
stopping to give me a choice.

WinXP is programmed so as to retain at least one
administrator account (which may be concealed but
not deleted.) You can reach it by rebooting and,
at the login prompt, keying Ctl-Alt-Del Ctl-Alt Del
(i.e. 3 keys simultaneously, twice over.)

 

[mm]

And this is best answer. So I started it in safe mode and was
offered both personas.

Now I realize I was in safe mode when I saw two personas the first
time, because it froze when starting in regular mode. I started it in
Safe mode, it automatically did a few things (drivers? I don't know
the message flashed for less than a second) and from then on I've been
starting it in regular mode. I just assumed it was because it was
the first time, instead of realizing or at least suspectiing it was
because of mode. (I'd forgotten that I used it.)

I also learned something else.

I have been able to dl MS updates, and AVG updates up to a point in
Daughter persona, but can't dl avg8.5 and can't go anywhere with IE8.
However in safe administrator persona, IE worked fine. In safe
Daughter persona, it worked no better than non-safe.

I'll figure this out eventually.

To follow-up, IE for Daughter was set for Dial-up, and I didnt' fully
change it for DSL. I misread some text and left a box checked that
should have been unchecked.


When I installed FF4, it gave a better message and pointed me to the
proxy settings, which I changed from System Settings to No Proxy.

When that worked for FF, I went back and fixed Internet
Options/Connections/Lan, at least I think I have. Computer has only
256Meg memory, started running like molasses, so I haven't checked
yet.

If I keep this for myself, I'll buy the max 4 gigs memory.

 

[mm]

To follow-up, IE for Daughter was set for Dial-up, and I didnt' fully
change it for DSL. I misread some text and left a box checked that
should have been unchecked.

The adminstrator was never set up for Dial-up, that's why it worked
with DSL. AVG download for v7.5 worked also. Everything else must
have depended on Internet Options settings.

 

[Seemore Grey]

The adminstrator was never set up for Dial-up, that's why it worked
with DSL. AVG download for v7.5 worked also. Everything else must
have depended on Internet Options settings.

Glad you got it resolved.